Dr. Tina Carkhuff is an industry advisor at Splunk, a Cisco company, where she helps state and local governments use data and analytics to detect fraud, strengthen cybersecurity, and improve operational resilience across critical programs like unemployment and other public benefits. As a former public sector CIO and a Vice President over executive programs at Gartner, she brings a unique focus to her work with agencies navigating complex program integrity, compliance, and modernization challenges.
 
A retired police officer and U.S. Army veteran, Tina proudly served in Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War. Her experience in law enforcement and military service has shaped her deep commitment to public service, integrity, and mission-driven leadership, values that continue to guide her work in government technology and fraud prevention.
 
Tina holds a PhD in organization and management from Liberty University, where her research focused on using data analytics to detect and mitigate fraud in state unemployment programs. She is a published author of The Role of Data Analytics in Detecting Unemployment Insurance Fraud and is completing her second book, From Chaos to Control: A Practical Playbook for Public Benefits Fraud Detection, scheduled for release in the coming months. She frequently presents to government audiences on fraud, cybersecurity, and cross-program data sharing, including sessions with state agencies and federally funded rural health programs.
 
In addition to her professional work, Tina is deeply committed to community service. She partners with local school districts in Texas to implement innovative technology solutions that support profoundly autistic children with communication challenges and assists families in identifying and accessing the specialized care their children require.